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Helen
Frankenthaler

Helen Frankenthaler was a prominent American Abstract Expressionist painter, renowned for her pioneering "soak-stain" technique which created vibrant, colour-saturated fields. Her career spanned six decades, contributing significantly to post-World War II American art. If you’re looking for Frankenthaler original prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network’s most in-demand works.

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Biography

Helen Frankenthaler was a groundbreaking American artist, born on December 12, 1928, in New York City. She grew up in a cultured, affluent family that encouraged her artistic inclinations from a young age. Frankenthaler's early work was shaped by Abstract Expressionists like Williem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, yet she quickly developed a unique style that distinguished her in the art world. During the 1950s, Frankenthaler made a significant breakthrough with her "soak-stain" technique. This method involved diluting oil paints and applying them to unprimed canvas, allowing the colours to soak into the fabric and creating ethereal, luminous fields of colour that seemed to float on the canvas – a stark departure from the thick, gestural brushstrokes of her contemporaries.

Throughout her career, which spanned over six decades, Frankenthaler continued to evolve, experimenting with new mediums and techniques. Although her style fluctuated between abstraction and a loose representation, it always maintained a focus on colour relationships and composition. Frankenthaler's contributions to Abstract Expressionism and the larger art world were profound, influencing generations of artists after her. She passed away on December 27, 2011, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering artist who reshaped the landscape of American abstract art.

Frankenthaler's career as an artist was marked by innovation and a profound influence on the course of American abstract painting. She embarked on her artistic journey under the guidance of influential mentors and through her own relentless experimentation and exploration. One of her early mentors was Rufino Tamayo, a renowned Mexican muralist, under whom she studied while at the Dalton School. His use of vivid colours and emotional intensity had a lasting impact on her artistic development. Later, at Bennington College, Paul Feeley, a modernist painter, further shaped her approach to art. Feeley's emphasis on basic forms and colours resonated with Frankenthaler, laying the groundwork for her future explorations.

Frankenthaler's breakthrough came with the development of her innovative soak-stain technique, which she first showcased in her 1952 masterpiece Mountains and Sea. This work, created when she was only 23 years old, marked a turning point in her career and in the evolution of post-World War II American art. The painting's ethereal, watercolour-like quality, which was achieved by thinning oil paint and applying it to unprimed canvas, challenged the thick textured brush strokes prevalent in Abstract Expressionism at the time. Mountains and Sea laid the groundwork for the expansion of the Colour Field movement, influencing artists like Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland, who were struck by the painting's innovative technique and emotional depth.

Frankenthaler’s body of work includes not just paintings but also woodcuts and prints, showing her versatility and willingness to experiment with different mediums. She explored various themes and styles, from more structured compositions in her earlier works to freer, more spontaneous pieces in her later years. Notable works like Eden and The Bay further exemplify her mastery of colour and form, showcasing her ability to convey depth and emotion through abstract representation. Frankenthaler's dedication to her craft, combined with her unique vision and technique, solidified her place as a leading presence in Abstract art. Her work has been the subject of several retrospectives, notably one at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1989.

Royal Fireworks by Helen Frankenthaler - Sotheby's

Image © Sotheby's / Royal Fireworks © Helen Frankenthaler 1975

1. £6.4M for Helen Frankenthaler's Royal Fireworks

Frankenthaler's Royal Fireworks (1975) represents both a culmination of her artistic evolution and a zenith in her auction history. This monumental canvas epitomises her mature phase, showcasing a pivotal transition in her technique to diluted acrylic paints from her previous oil soak-staining method. Making its reappearance at auction after nearly a decade, Royal Fireworks debuted in Sotheby's online sale in June 2020. The 13-foot masterpiece orchestrates a captivating symphony of vibrant oranges merging into delicate pinks, culminating in a coral crescendo against contrasting turquoise. Its resounding success at auction, fetching £6.4 million (with fees), Royal Fireworks established Frankenthaler's auction record.

Dream Decision by Helen Frankenthaler - Sotheby's

Image © Sotheby's / Dream Decision © Helen Frankenthaler 1976

2. £4.4M for Helen Frankenthaler's Dream Decision

Purchased the same year the artwork was created from a prominent San Francisco gallery, this artwork resurfaced on the secondary market in November 2021 after a four-decade hiatus. Immersed in a tranquil lavender wash merging with deep oceanic blue, the canvas reveals subtle magenta stains. Reminiscent of Frankenthaler's oeuvre, the work emanates an ethereal, feminine allure. Its carefully chosen palette pulsates with vitality akin to Post War Abstract Expressionism. Dream Decision (1976) captivates with its name and execution, embodying a reverie-like quality. This work fetched £4.3 million (with fees) at Sotheby's Day auction, reaffirming Frankenthaler's resonance within the art market.

Circe by Helen Frankenthaler - Sotheby's

Image © Sotheby's / Circe © Helen Frankenthaler 1974

3. £3.8M for Helen Frankenthaler's Circe

Frankenthaler's Circe (1976) embodies her profound artistic philosophy, epitomised by the quote, ”It was all there. I wanted to live in this land. I had to live there, and master the language.” This expansive canvas, awash with varied blue tones blending seamlessly with coral beige, invites viewers into a realm of poetic contemplation. With a meandering incursion of purple rhapsody, Circe captivates with its enigmatic terrain, evoking a trance-like allure. Circe fetched £3.8 million (with fees) at Sotheby's in May 2022 and remains one of her top-selling works.

Carousel by Helen Frankenthaler - Sotheby's

Image © Sotheby's / Carousel © Helen Frankenthaler 1979